The full Moon celebrates the Winter Solstice on Saturday, December 22. Both Luminaries, Sun and Moon are at 0 degree of Capricorn and Cancer, constellations which mark the entry into winter and summer. This is a moment when we can hear the Music of the Spheres. It is a moment of absolute stillness, a chance to begin anew in a place of cosmic attunement!

photo: Bruce Lhuillier

The approach to the dark winter solstice always feels dangerous and death ridden. But there is an opportunity for healing at this moment. The position of Mars and Chiron as they relate to the Sun and Moon speaks of healing, finding a doctor within. What can be done to lighten the mood? Mars says: party like crazy, go to concerts, sing and feast! Chiron recommends embracing all the colors of your crystal, knowing how important is your ray of light in this spectrum. Leave nothing of yourself behind in the cold.

photo: Bruce Lhuillier

There’s a strong suggestion of surprise in this chart as Uranus, the Wild One shakes Sun and Moon with fiery energy. The Sabian Symbol for the position of Uranus is Attunement to cosmic order. ‘Listen to Your Inner Voice!’ he says from his perch in Aries. Look into the crystal, a reminder of all the frequencies of colors which must go into a ray of pure white light. To hear the Inner Voice, we have to trust our own light, our own music!

Venus and Neptune are in a harmonious trine of Water signs. They play the background music for this Sun Moon dance. What will the entry of the Moon into Cancer (more Water), mean for the planets of love? Perhaps Venus and Neptune will tune us to the cosmic order. Cosmic music, like the light of the crystal, requires each vibration of sound.

photo: Bruce Lhuillier

A musical theme seems right for a full Moon at the season when we sing or hear music the most. The Sabian Symbol for Uranus continues with the theme of ‘cosmic attunement.’ ‘If you are ready to enter into new possibilities of action, you must also learn the harmonic principles in operation! The Music of the Spheres.’ All we are asked to do is to stop a moment to feel the Sun’s journey and the full Moon’s sweet voice!

photo: Bruce Lhuillier

The celebration of the journey of the Sun and Moon, gives depth and comfort to every person, no matter who they are, where they live. Each voice in praise of the Earth and Sky are more powerful than all the forces of destruction and despair! The bird of this season is the Wren, smallest of all, with the sweetest note! The old song says: ‘Who sees the Wren sees God.’ Our song is never too small to move hearts and to brighten the dark season.

photo: Robert Fuhro (Carolina Wren)

The Wisdom Tradition evolved over the centuries to address our deepest human needs. Sarah Fuhro is a practitioner of its many forms; including Astrology, Tarot, Flower Essences and Druidry. For an appointment call 508 652 9880 or email her at sarahfuhro@gmail.com. In addition to personal consultations, Sarah teaches workshops and private classes, offering both clients and students knowledge powerfully rooted in the past, presented in the language of the present.

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun’s position (Sagittarius 3°) speaks of a need we feel during a time of confusion. ‘A little child learning to walk with the encouragement of his parents. The natural assistance of superior power during a crises of growth.’ It’s not an easy task to learn to walk, but once on two feet, a child’s view of the world changes radically.

Oceanic Neptune watches the opposition between Sun and Moon from a square in Pisces his favorite location. He has just turned direct, and perhaps like the encouraging parent, watches the faltering steps of the children who stumble in their attempt to stand tall and see the world in a new way. Neptune, takes us to a higher realm, which we may not be ready to interpret, just as a small child bursts upon the mysteries of a whole new landscape, and takes time to process what she sees.

Here is a design from the American Indian Museum illustrating the 18+ year cycle of the Major and Minor Lunar standstills. This was closely watched by people who lived beneath the sky on this continent and in Stone Age Europe.
We are now at a Minor Lunar Standstill period. If you keep a close watch on the rising and setting of the Moon across a familiar horizon you will notice a journey over the (almost) 19 year period. This is built into Avebury and many other stone circles. It is also the way people have learned to predict eclipses.
As the lunar nodes begin and end their 19 year cycle at the Major Lunar Standstill at 0° Aries for the North Node. At the Minor Lunar Standstill where we are this year, the North Node is at 0° Libra.

All this beautiful and mysterious action of the Moon is due to the tilt of the Earth. Off kilter we spin creating a number of earth/moon/sun cycles that speak to us and our ancestors about the potential for interaction between us and the cosmos.

Here is the chart for Wednesday’s full Moon. The Moon in Gemini stands alone watching Sun, Saturn and Mercury across the way. Gemini Moon is chatty and full of mental observations. Sagittarius Sun/Saturn/Mercury, like to attach a ‘higher’ meaning to life. This is the full Moon of the spritual seeker! Many of us have had the opportunity to ask what role we play in the pain and joy of the planet over the last few weeks. This combination of Sagittarius Sun and planets opposed by Gemini Moon interlaces spiritual forms communicated in mental and verbal forms. The Moon must pit her observations against the authority of the Sun, Saturn, who sets the rules, and Mercury who is the lord of Gemini. The Moon must, like the child learning to walk, check her bright new observations of the world in light of those who who would define her new experiences. Sagittarius carries the weight of ‘higher education,’ ‘the law, (spiritual and secular) and established belief. The Gemini Moon speaks ‘truth to power,’ like the little child who saw, and said: ‘the emperor has no clothes.’

This full Moon shines upon a very old battle. Further clues as the to meaning of this pre Solstice full Moon can be found in the Sabian Symbol for the degree of the Gemini Moon: ‘Holly and Mistletoe reawaken old memories of Christmas.’ The explanation for this symbol which goes back to celebrations long before Christmas is ‘A longing for the preintellectual state of consciousness.’Holly and Mistletoe play a big role in Druid rituals for the Winter Solstice. Mistletoe is cut on the 6th day of the new Moon after the Solstice with a Golden Sickle and is supposed to land untouched by human hands on a linen sheet. How Mistletoe is cut with a golden sickle, is a bit of a mystery, but gives us a clue about the Sun’s return! Mistletoe berries are passed out in our present day Druid ritual here in the New World. The seeds look like little Moons and are a symbol of the sperm of the gods, promising the return of the Sun and fertitlity for animals and humans alike. Another name for Mistletoe is All Heal. It was used in several forms for healing, spasms, nervous disorders, especially epilepsy. At Christmas time it remains a symbol of fertility where kisses are exchanged.

Holly is the tree who battles with Oak for the crown of the year. At the Summer Solstice, the Holly King spears the Oak (the Sun) and, at the height of his journey, he is wounded. The battle of light and dark turns, even as the heat and feritility of summer grows stronger. At the Winter Solstice, the Oak King regains his strenth and wounds the Holly King. Winter closes in, but light cannot be turned back, and the days grow longer.

The Oak King and the Holly King

A battle rages in the silver skies, rattle of dry Oak leaves as they tremble on the branch.

A battle commenced at midsummer, when Oak dies on Holly’s spear, even as his kingdom grows in strength.

Oak returns in stealth. restored to his crown Holly holds back his arm, withdraws his thorny point.

Oak rises up in the red blood of Holly’s berries, in the red sunset of a winter afternoon, as the sharp thorns of frost and ice cut us to the core.

Oak is king again even on the darkest day, while Holly. sharp and thorny, brightens bleak halls of winter twilight.

Sarah Fuhro, 6 December 2005

Sarah Fuhro sarahfuhro@gmail.com

Keeping our Ancient Wisdom Alive
The Wisdom Tradition evolved over the centuries to address our deepest human needs. Sarah Fuhro is a practitioner of its many forms; including Astrology, Tarot, Flower Essences and Druidry. In addition to personal consultations, Sarah teaches workshops and private classes, offering both clients and students knowledge powerfully rooted in the past, presented in the language of the present. To learn more, please visit http://www.sarahfuhro.com.